Purpose: The purpose of this survey was to find factors affecting breakfast skip rates for male students participating in sports, and to determine how to improve their nutrition.
Methods: The survey was conducted on 86 male students (58 who played sports and 28 who did not). A questionnaire was supplied to all, containing questions concerning daily food eating behavior. The student's answers were evaluated according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. In addition, blood pressure, body mass index, and serum levels of uric acid, triglycerides and ferritin were measured in all subjects.
Results: The breakfast skip rate was 36% for the sports club affiliation group, and 46.4% for the non-affiliation group. Students who were not supplied with meals from their mothers or dormitory food service had more irregular meal times, skipped breakfast more, and drank less milk and miso soup often than the students supplied with meals. Students playing sports, but not supplied with meals, had a lower evaluation regarding eating habits and higher serum levels of serum uric acid and ferritin, compared to the students supplied with meals.
Conclusions: The eating habits of male students are affected by whether they receive meals or not. It is considered that the higher levels of serum uric acid and ferritin in the students not supplied with meals is due to their irregular eating habits and heavy exercise. It is suggested that nutritional guidance is needed for such students.